Bot detection in a virtual digital environment

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments provide bot detection in a virtual environment that is based on avatar motion. The motion of an avatar within a virtual environment such as a metaverse is tracked. The tracked motion is separated into multiple movement segments. The movement segments are compared to a collection of movement patterns in a movement pattern database that are indicative of bots. A similarity metric is determined between the tracked motion and the database of bot motions. In response to the similarity metric exceeding a predetermined threshold, a list of at least one mitigation action is obtained, and the at least one mitigation action in the list is executed, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of bots in a virtual digital environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for bot detection, comprising:
 tracking motion of an avatar within a virtual environment;   separating the tracked motion into a plurality of movement segments;   comparing the plurality of movement segments to a collection of movement patterns;   computing a similarity metric for the tracked motion to at least one movement pattern from the collection of movement patterns;   in response to the similarity metric exceeding a predetermined threshold for being a bot:
 obtaining a list of at least one mitigation action; and 
 executing the at least one mitigation action from the list includes providing instructions to the avatar, wherein the at least one mitigation action includes displaying a label that the avatar is a potential bot in the virtual environment, wherein the instructions include requiring the avatar to move to a specified location in the virtual environment and requiring the avatar to input an utterance in the virtual environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a second predetermined threshold, and:
 in response to the similarity metric exceeding the second predetermined threshold:   obtaining a second list of at least one mitigation action; and   executing the at least one mitigation action from the second list.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing preprocessing on the tracked motion prior to the comparing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the preprocessing includes rotation and mirroring. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the similarity metric is increased when repetitive movements are detected for the avatar. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the preprocessing includes scaling. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mitigation action includes providing instructions to the avatar. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions include text. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions include requiring the avatar to input audio in the virtual environment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the label displayed for the avatar comprises displaying a probability of being the potential bot in the virtual environment in response to the similarity metric exceeding the predetermined threshold for being the bot. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mitigation actions include a virtual environment position freeze in the virtual environment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mitigation actions include a virtual environment account freeze. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mitigation actions include deletion of the avatar. 
     
     
         14 . An electronic computation device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the electronic computation device to:
 track motion of an avatar within a virtual environment; 
 separate the tracked motion into a plurality of movement segments; 
 compare the plurality of movement segments to a collection of movement patterns; 
 compute a similarity metric for the tracked motion to at least one movement pattern from the collection of movement patterns; 
 in response to the similarity metric exceeding a predetermined threshold for being a bot: 
 obtain a list of at least one mitigation action; and 
 execute the at least one mitigation action from the list includes providing instructions to the avatar, wherein the at least one mitigation action includes displaying a label that the avatar is a potential bot in the virtual environment, wherein the instructions include requiring the avatar to move to a specified location in the virtual environment and requiring the avatar to input an utterance in the virtual environment. 
   
     
     
         15 . The electronic computation device of  claim 14 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the electronic computation device to perform preprocessing on the tracked motion prior to the comparing. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic computation device of  claim 14 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the electronic computation device to delete the avatar. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic computation device of  claim 14 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the electronic computation device to provide instructions for the avatar to move to a specified location. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product for an electronic computation device comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the electronic computation device to:
 track motion of an avatar within a virtual environment;   separate the tracked motion into a plurality of movement segments;   compare the plurality of movement segments to a collection of movement patterns;   compute a similarity metric for the tracked motion to at least one movement patter from the collection of movement patterns;   in response to the similarity metric exceeding a predetermined threshold for being a bot:
 obtain a list of at least one mitigation action; and 
 execute the at least one mitigation action from the list includes providing instructions to the avatar, wherein the at least one mitigation action includes displaying a label that the avatar is a potential bot in the virtual environment, wherein the instructions include requiring the avatar to move to a specified location in the virtual environment and requiring the avatar to input an utterance in the virtual environment. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the computer readable storage medium includes program instructions executable by the processor to cause the electronic computation device to delete the avatar.